It has emerged that 70 patients have so far missed their scheduled appointment for a Covid vaccine at just one Kent surgery.

The Primary Care Network at Harrietsham at the Len Valley surgery in Church Road is processing vaccinations on behalf of the Bearsted Medical Practice, the Len Valley Practice, Headcorn Surgery, Sutton Valence Surgery and the Orchard Surgery in Langley.

Fortunately to date, no vaccines have been wasted as staff have been able to call in other patients at short notice.

A spokesman said: "The team rallied round and other patients took their place, so no vaccine was wasted, thankfully.

"But when numbers like this fail to arrive and a call goes out to others waiting, it can cause unnecessary congestion at the site. "

It is understood the PCN has only a two-hour window to find another patient before the Pfizer vaccine becomes unusable.

The no-shows come at a time, when many villagers are angry that they have yet to be offered a vaccination. The PCN has asked parish councils in the area to help spread the word to encourage patients with an appointment who can't make it to give as much notice as possible.

But when Headcorn Parish Council put an appeal on its Facebook page, several villagers posted frosty replies.

Raquel Red said: "I will be annoyed if my mother is classed on this list of missed appointments!

"I phoned to cancel and could not get through and had to leave a message.

"The reason for cancelling is that my mother is 83 with major underlying health and mobility issues, she relies on me for everything, but when her vaccine date was due I was told that my daughter had to self isolate so couldn’t get my mum to the vaccine!"

Wendy Hinds had similar concerns.

'The number just rang unanswered...'

She said: "Considering that many of the patients having the vaccination at this point will be elderly and a percentage of those will have memory issues or dementia this doesn't surprise me in the least.

"I'm registered as a carer for my mum at the surgery (she's diagnosed with dementia) yet they still contact her direct, with no back up for informing me, so she could easily miss her appointments as it's hit or miss if she tells me and she definitely wouldn't remember on her own.

"As far as I know she hasn't had an appointment arranged yet, but who knows?"

Geoff Swift said: "I took my elderly mother to have her vaccine done recently at Harrietsham, but I could not get hold of anyone on the phone prior to the appointment.

"I wanted to check about her penicillin allergy, but the number just rang unanswered.

"I must have tried a dozen times over a couple of days, the reception people told me to email instead and I didn't get a reply from that either.

"I'm not excusing anyone that simply didn't turn up of course, but some might have had the communication issues I had."

Michelle Gardiner, of the public appointments section, assured the community: "I know it is both a depressing and anxious time. The PCN team have really been working flat out to get this vaccine out across our 80+ age range."

The number to ring if it is necessary to cancel an appointment at Harrietsham is 01622 892346.

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